Public art work in Tampere Cathedral Park/Lotta Svärd Memorial Park, Tampere, Finland, 2025
Läpi harmaan kiven
The memorial, titled Läpi harmaan kiven, was created to pay tribute to the work and legacy of the Lotta Svärd organisation, a prominent voluntary organisation for women in Finland that operated from 1921 to 1944. The organisation provided auxiliary support to both the military and the civil defence, with a particular emphasis on its activities during wartime.
The Finnish phrase Läpi harmaan kiven translates as through the grey stone and describes the act of overcoming extreme obstacles and achieving a goal despite overwhelming odds. The phrase conveys a sense of determination and perseverance, akin to the English expression where there’s a will, there’s a way.
The monument comprises two natural stone boulders. The larger of these bears an illustration of the lotta and pikkulotta uniforms in their natural size, the years 1921–1944, and the Finnish national flower, the lily-of-the-valley. The use of stainless steel serves to reinforce the boulder, whilst the visible extremities of the rods, evocative of bullets, are meticulously polished. The smaller boulder bears an image of a child figure, with a designated space for the placement of either a candle or a white rose.
The monument is situated in the Lotta Svärd Memorial Park, which is located in the northern part of Tampere Cathedral Park. The sculpture installation is included in the public art collection of the city of Tampere, the management of which is the responsibility of the Tampere Art Museum.
The unveiling of the monument was conducted on 28 September 2025.
Anne Koskinen, Lotta Svard Memorial Läpi harmaan kiven, two part sculpture installation, natural stone boulders, stainless steel, candle/white rose, 2025.
